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Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Take No Offense

"And now, isn’t it wonderful all the ways in which this distress has goaded you closer to God? You’re more alive, more concerned, more sensitive, more reverent, more human, more passionate, more responsible. Looked at from any angle, you’ve come out of this with purity of heart. And that is what I was hoping for in the first place when I wrote the letter. My primary concern was not for the one who did the wrong or even the one wronged, but for you—that you would realize and act upon the deep, deep ties between us before God." 2 Corinthians 7:11-12

Paul had received word that the Corinthians had been slipping in there faith in Christ and twisting his teachings. In response, he wrote 1 Corinthians to put them back on course in their walk with Christ. Upon arrival of the first letter, the people took offense because Paul passionately corrected them.

In 2 Corinthians 7:11-12, this offense is mentioned and it is refered to as a growing moment or drawing "closer to God." Some of the benefits of this distress or offense is, "you’re [become] more alive, more concerned, more sensitive, more reverent, more human, more passionate, more responsible." Out of something that might be initially considered an offense, you gain some much more.

As humans, we are easily offended and there are a few negative responses to offense: mad, upset, repeal and rebel to name a few. His letter was taken as a rude, scolding writing and yet his spurring was intended "...that you would realize and act upon the deep, deep ties between us before God."

What is your response to offense or correction? Scripture is clear we should not react negatively, but look at ourselves and begin to ask God to repair you and I in those areas in which we took offense. God is in the business of healing and these offenses can start that process.

Have you been offended lately? Have you gotten mad at someone's words or actions? Have you examined your own heart? Ask yourself these questions and my prayer is instead of you and I being offended we will take an opportunity to grow in Christ.

May you and I be offended for the glory of God and apply it to our lives. God Bless.

Sweet Quotes:

Jesus said, " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' " (Luke 10:27)"I didn't know that cool was just a myth and that one person was just as beautiful and meaningful as another." Donald Miller"God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing." C.S. Lewis

"Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens." J. R. R. Tolkien

"It may be true that the law cannot make a man love me, but it can stop him from lynching me, and I think that's pretty important." Martin Luther King Jr.

"If we discover a desire within us that nothing in this world can satisfy, also we should begin to wonder if perhaps we were created for another world." C.S. Lewis"If people look only to their own interests, our world will certainly fall apart." Pope Benedict XVI